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Tech<br />
Trends<br />
Starfleet Explorer is launched as three<br />
limited editions of 99 pieces each in blue,<br />
green and red.<br />
Table clocks – (extremely) large watches<br />
<strong>The</strong> Starfleet Explorer is a table clock, featuring essentially<br />
the same mechanisms as a wristwatch, only<br />
larger: gear train, mainspring barrel, balance wheel,<br />
escape wheel and pallet-lever. L’Epée 1839’s regulator<br />
also features an Incabloc shock protection system,<br />
something generally only seen in wristwatches, which<br />
minimises the risk of damage when the clock is being<br />
transported.<br />
One might be tempted to think that the more substantial<br />
size of the components simplifies work. Larger<br />
components, however, make finely finishing the<br />
movement much more difficult to handle than finishing<br />
a wristwatch, because of the bigger surface areas.<br />
Arnaud Nicolas, CEO L’Epée 1839 explains: “It’s not<br />
just a case of double the size of the components, it’s<br />
double the time it takes to finish them. <strong>The</strong> complexity<br />
increases exponentially. For polishing you need<br />
to apply the same pressure as you would finishing a<br />
watch movement, but on a bigger surface, and that’s<br />
more challenging. It’s thanks to the experience and<br />
dexterity of our clockmakers that the Starfleet Explorer<br />
can feature such superlative fine-finishing.”<br />
Form follows function<br />
<strong>The</strong> details of the polished movement can be fully<br />
appreciated by the naked eye, thanks in large part to<br />
the Starfleet Explorer’s extremely open concentric<br />
C-shaped external structure, to which the mainplate<br />
is attached.<br />
<strong>The</strong> outermost C-shape features three vertical arcs<br />
on which the clock rests. <strong>The</strong>se graceful supports<br />
play a role in the design of the model, but also have a<br />
very practical application: to enable the Starfleet Explorer<br />
to be placed upside down for time-setting and<br />
rewinding using a special key.<br />
Starfleet Explorer: Technical Specifications<br />
Starfleet Explorer is launched as three limited editions of 99<br />
pieces each in blue, green and red.<br />
Display<br />
Minutes: indicated by a fixed curved aperture on the mobile<br />
upper dome, performing a complete rotation every 60 minutes.<br />
Hours: indicated by a mobile hand, performing a complete<br />
rotation every 12 hours on a fixed disc.<br />
<strong>The</strong> minutes aperture and the hour hand are satin-brushed<br />
and anodised, in blue, green or red.<br />
<strong>The</strong> hour dome and the minutes disc are satin-brushed and<br />
feature MB&F’s signature numerals.<br />
Main structure<br />
Height: approx. 11cm<br />
Diameter: approx. 16.5cm<br />
Number of parts: <strong>19</strong><br />
Materials: stainless steel for the main structure, hand-lacquered<br />
polymer for the three spacecraft.<br />
Movement<br />
L’Epée 1839 in-house designed and manufactured movement<br />
Balance frequency: 18,000 vph / 2.5Hz<br />
One barrel, power reserve: eight days<br />
Number of parts: 95<br />
Jewels: 11<br />
Incabloc shock protection system<br />
Manual-winding: double-ended key to set time and wind the<br />
movement<br />
Mechanism and mainplate in palladium-treated brass<br />
91
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